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Some Brevard commissioners scorn Lober's Facebook comments

Editor's note: This story has been updated. An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the views Brevard County Commission Vice Chair Bryan Lober posted on Facebook about abortion. Lober wrote that while he is “not typically a big abortion proponent,” in the case of Brevard County Democratic Executive Committee Chair Stacey Patel, he “might just be willing to look the other way” if Patel sought an abortion. His comment made no reference to "liberals" in gene.

Some Brevard County commissioners expressed concern Monday about comments made last week on Facebook by County Commission Vice Chair Bryan Lober that people in the community felt crossed a line.

County Commissioner Curt Smith said Lober's comments are "disappointing."

"This kind of conduct drags us all down in the gutter," Smith said. "I find what he said very disturbing. I don't think the comments were befitting the professional conduct people hold us to as elected officials."

Among the comments Lober made on Facebook were ones directed at Brevard County Democratic Executive Committee Chair Stacey Patel, saying that, while he disagrees with abortion, he might “look the other way” if a liberal like Patel sought abortions.

“I can only imagine what a scourge on humanity (and on our economy) her offspring would prove to be given that her litter would likely be raised with an entitlement mentality, zero work ethic, and taught the hypocritically racist and sexist position that the white man is evil,” Lober wrote on Facebook. “Unfortunately those least capable of properly raising children typically procreate without a second thought.”

County Commissioner Curt Smith(Photo: PROVIDED PHOTO)

Smith said he plans to bring the matter up at the next County Commission meeting, scheduled for July 9, though he admits he doesn't know exactly what he will say or do.

"I need to calm down before I make those kind of decisions," Smith said, while adding that he typically does not like to comment on other commissioners.

Smith said, while Lober has insisted he has a First Amendment right to say what he wants on social media, being an elected official, Lober also "receives consequences" for his actions.

"Being a commissioner carries the responsibility of representing all the people in the county," Smith said.

In responding to Smith’s comments, Lober told FLORIDA TODAY in an email: "I can say only that it is disappointing that it appears conclusions have been prematurely drawn based upon one-sided information so lacking in context as to essentially render its implied meaning false."

Lober said his Facebook comment was "satirical," and that "while the comment regarding abortion may have been in poor taste," he claimed that Patel in the past has made a "blatantly sexist and racist post which seeks to discriminate against qualified individuals solely on the basis of race and gender."

Lober was referring to a Facebook post by Patel that said: "Friendly reminder: Under no circumstances should the final Democratic ticket be two white men. Thanks. Back to our regularly scheduled programming."

Commissioners John Tobia and Rita Pritchett commented more indirectly when they were asked about Lober's comments.

"While honest disagreements are part of a thriving democracy, personal and divisive language from elected officials do not further the discourse that provides for a healthy lagoon, improved infrastructure and a safe community for all residents," Tobia said.

Pritchett said she is concerned in general about the tensions between commissioners and members of the public.

"I'm just hoping everybody calms down," Pritchett said. "I think everything has gotten reactive at this point. In all fairness, I've seen the shots from both sides. It's just not a loving situation here."

In political discourse, Pritchett said, "everything is getting so hateful."

But she said there is not much she can personally do about what other commissioners say or do.

"I'm just a commissioner," Pritchett said. "I'm not the queen."

Lober said he "unequivocally" agrees with Pritchett's and Tobia's comments about the need to calm down and focus on important county issues.

Lober also drew fire for a Facebook comment he made, referencing a comment from another person, warning protesters at Tuesday's political rally in Orlando featuring President Donald Trump to be careful of "Dodge Chargers." Some people interpreted that as an apparent mistaken reference to when a Dodge Challenger was used to run down a women protester at the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017.

“I wouldn’t recommend using a snow plow. It might look intentional,” Lober wrote in reply, adding a winking emoji.

Lober said he understood the Charger comment to refer to police vehicles, as the Dodge model is often used by law enforcement, saying he was only referencing a 2019 incident in which a snowplow driver allegedly splashed anti-Trump protesters with slush.

"I jokingly stated that I would not use a snowplow," Lober told FLORIDA TODAY. "This post was intended to be patently facetious, as the likelihood of law enforcement using a snowplow to splash protesters with snow in Central Florida is essentially nonexistent."

He said he never intended his comment to mean he supported running down people with vehicles.

Some members of the community previously raised concerns about Lober, an attorney, briefly representing Isnardi's husband, Dave Isnardi, in a felony case before Dave Isnardi secured another law firm to handle his case.

Critics said they felt the situation created a potential conflict of interest between Lober and Kristine Isnardi — something Lober disputes.